President Ronald Reagan Proclaims 1988 April 21 "John Muir Day"

Proclamation 3794 of April 11, 1988
John Muir Day, 1988
By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

April 21 is the 150th Anniversary of the birth of John Muir, naturalist,
explorer, conservationist, author, champion of the American wilderness, and
proponent of national parks. This Sesquicentennial Celebration reminds us of
our debt to this native of Scotland who traversed our country, our continent,
and the world to study and describe mountains and forest and glacier and glade,
and who left us a vision of utmost respect for the wilderness and all it
embodies.

After studying at the University of Wisconsin and revealing an aptitude for
mechanical inventions, Muir decided to embark on "the study of the inventions of
God" -- in the "university of the wilderness." Both observant and eloquent, he
began journey and journal-keeping to investigate nature. Success as a
horticulturist near Martinez, California, gave him the wherewithal to travel and
study for a lifetime. He walked throughout his beloved Golden State, all
America, and many other lands to record his observations and wrote books and
articles on natural phenomena and especially on the forests he loved.

John Muir understood and helped others to see the significance and beauty of the
wilderness -- and to realize that it should be protected for future generations.
The establishment of our tremendous national park system, and the practice of
sound conservation policies by industry, government, and private citizens, owe
much to this pioneer, who along with Robert Underwood Johnson led the fight for
the creation in 1890 of what is now Yosemite National Park; who in 1903 hosted
President Theodore Roosevelt in Yosemite; who wrote, "the forests of America,
however slighted by man, must have been a great delight to God; for they were
the finest He ever created."

Let all who revere America's natural heritage, and see in it a timeless treasure
dependent upon our stewardship, pause on April 21 in grateful remembrance of
John Muir, a man who forever expressed his credo in the words, "In God's
wildness lies the hope of the world..."

The Congress by
Senate Joint Resolution 245
, has designated April 21, 1988, as
"John Muir Day" and authorized and requested the President to issue a
proclamation in observance of this event.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do
hereby proclaim April 21, 1988, as John Muir Day, and I call upon the people of
the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of April, in
the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eight-eight, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and twelfth.